Netflix is About to Lose a Criminally Underrated Monster Movie That Actually Aged Very Well

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Godzilla debuted all the way back in 1998 and stars Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, and Maria Pitillo. And while it scored a dismal 20% with critics, it’s still one of the films that define the American kaiju genre. The film centers around the events following a nuclear test in which the French government inadvertently mutates a lizard nest. Now, years later, a giant, monstrous lizard finds itself in the center of New York City. Having no other choice, the government sends in Dr. Niko Tatopoulos (Broderick), an expert on the effects of radiation on animals, to study the creature. When the monster finally reveals itself, a massive battle with the military begins. But that’s not the worst part: Niko soon discovers that Godzilla has laid a nest of 200 eggs beneath the city—which are now ready to hatch.

Godzilla Didn’t Get a Fair Shake

Critics and audiences alike were more than happy to tear Godzilla to shreds, claiming that its plot had no hopes of living up to its massive budget and the massive legend that surrounds the greatest monster of all time. Critic Gary Dretzka rated the film 2 out of 4 stars, saying, “How do you screw up ‘Squish’ and ‘Aargh’? By spending more than $100 million on marvelous special effects, another $50 million on a brilliant marketing campaign, and, then, forgetting to invest any money on a logical script. That’s how.” And while it’s true that the plot felt thin in places, that train of thought negates all of the fun that made it into the final product.

“You can’t have everything, especially in the cinematic summer season. And when Emmerich and Dean are at their gleefully destructive best, you really don’t want everything. Popcorn fun is more than enough,” said critic Allison Gillmor. And that’s what is at the heart of the film. Truly, the best way to approach Godzilla is with the mindset that there are no bad Godzilla movies. At its core, it’s entertaining and has a bit of something for everyone—plenty of reasons to catch it while it’s still on Netflix.

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